New report: An inclusive economy is essential for all Washingtonians, our economy, and the future progress of our statehttp://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/new-report-an-inclusive-economy-is-essential-for-all-washingtonians-our-economy-and-the-future-progress-of-our-state-1
<p>Washington is poised for great economic progress. By many measures, a better future for all people in our state is within our grasp. And yet, economic growth is not reaching all Washingtonians. There are persistent and deep disparities based on race, ethnicity, nativity, class, and geography across every measure of economic progress. Progress is meaningful only if it’s felt by everyone and prosperity is shared by all Washingtonians. To create real progress, our state must have an inclusive economy in which everyone, especially people with low incomes and people of color, can participate in growth and benefit from it. Those are the primary findings of our “<a class="external-link" href="../building-an-inclusive-economy/pdf_version">Building an Inclusive Economy” report</a>&nbsp;(the first in our <em>Progress in Washington 2018</em> series of reports).</p>
<p><img class="image-right" src="/images/Buildinganinclusiveeconomycarousel.jpg/image_mini" alt="Inclusive Economy carousel" />Shared economic prosperity is one of the best measures of how our state and country are progressing, but economic growth has not been broadly shared in our state. Gains in income have been concentrated at the top while wages for low- and middle-income people have stagnated or declined. This rise in inequality is the result of many state and federal policy and budget decisions by legislators that have negatively impacted certain Washington state residents. Decades of regressive taxation, deregulation, privatization, cuts to the safety net, as well as the decline of collective bargaining have all played a role in rising inequality.</p>
<p>Washington state’s own <a class="external-link" href="washington-state2019s-upside-down-tax-system-takes-a-heavy-toll-on-communities-of-color">upside-down tax code</a> has contributed to the problem. Hardworking families in our state pay as much as seven times more than the wealthiest pay while corporations and the ultra-wealthy benefit from unnecessary tax breaks, making it hard for our state to have the revenue it needs to invest in the foundations that serve us all, such as great schools, quality health care, and other public priorities that make Washington a great place to live. Policymakers must fix our broken tax code. Doing so will allow our state budget to have sustainable sources of revenue to build an inclusive economy and to invest equitably in our communities in the short and long term.</p>
<p><strong>Prosperity should be within reach of all Washingtonians</strong><br />Making sure all Washingtonians have access to opportunity and resources is essential to ensuring prosperity is within reach of all residents. Across many indicators of economic progress, the data show that people with low incomes and people of color are starting off on unequal footing and are facing greater barriers in large part because of the impact of harmful historical housing, economic development, and financial policies. As Washington grows more racially and ethnically diverse, the future well-being of all of us hinges upon erasing the deep and pervasive racial imbalances that exist across these measures. By 2050, our state population will be majority people of color. Washington state’s young people are already at the forefront of this demographic transformation. Forty-three percent of children are kids of color.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" class="discreet">&nbsp;[Click on graphic to enlarge.]</p>
<p align="center"><a title="WA_Demog_1980to2050" class="internal-link" href="/schmudget/Race_Eth_1980to2050.JPG"><img class="image-inline image-inline" src="/schmudget/Race_Eth_1980to2050.JPG/image_preview" alt="WA_Demog_1980to2050" height="252" width="462" /><br /></a></p>
<p align="left">In an inclusive economy, all Washingtonians – regardless of race, ethnicity, nativity, income, or community of residence – would be able to access quality jobs and have financial security and stability. Our education system would be preparing students and workers for good jobs and jobs of the future. And all Washingtonians would be able to live healthy lives in vibrant communities so they can better connect to and participate in the economy. However, data trends highlighted in our report indicate economic prosperity is out or reach for many residents in three key areas – economic security; education and job readiness; and healthy people and communities. For example:</p>
<ul><li><strong>Economic security</strong>: Although economic growth holds the promise of prosperity for working people across the state, rising employment has not reached all communities. While unemployment in Washington state has overall dipped to 4.5 percent, for many communities of color – such as Pacific Islanders, American Indians, and Blacks – unemployment rates remain at or near 10 percent. There are geographic differences as well: the unemployment rate has remained high in many rural counties. In Ferry County, the unemployment rate is the highest in the state at 9.1 percent, and in Pacific and Wahkiakum counties, unemployment remains at just above 6 percent. <br /></li><li><strong>Education and job readiness</strong>: While the state’s Department of Early Learning’s goal is for 90 percent of kids to start kindergarten with the skills they need to succeed, currently only 47 percent of kindergartners are meeting that threshold, and there are significant differences by income and race. Only 33 percent of kids with low incomes, 27 percent of Pacific Islander kids, 30 percent of Latino kids, and 32 percent of American Indian kids were kindergarten ready in 2016.</li><li><strong>Healthy people and communities</strong>: In Washington state, many low-income communities, communities of color, and rural communities experience worse health outcomes when it comes to chronic diseases, life expectancy, obesity, and more. Thirteen percent of households in Washington struggle with food insecurity – the inability to have three meals on the table every day as a result of lack of resources. Among 10th graders, Pacific Islander, Latino, and Black students have the highest likelihood of living in families that had to reduce meal sizes or skip meals compared to overall state average.</li></ul>
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<p style="text-align: center;" class="discreet">&nbsp;[Click on graphic to enlarge.]</p>
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<div align="center"><a title="Food_Insecurity_10th_graders" class="internal-link" href="/schmudget/Food_Security_10th_graders.JPG"><img class="image-inline image-inline" src="/schmudget/Food_Security_10th_graders.JPG/image_preview" alt="Food_Insecurity_10th_graders" height="252" width="458" /></a></div>
<p class="discreet">Note about data: Disaggregated data is presented to provide a preliminary understanding of disparities by race, ethnicity, and nativity. On its own, the data throughout the report tells a limited story about the population it represents. We encourage users of this data to engage with communities of color to develop a more accurate and meaningful understanding than the data allows.</p>
<p>These and other trends highlighted in the report point to the fact that much work remains to be done for policymakers and all of us to advance shared prosperity and progress for generations to come. Our state budget and tax code are powerful tools to make this happen and to build an inclusive economy. In the upcoming 2018 legislative session and beyond, policymakers can choose to advance shared prosperity by making sure our state budget and policies increase economic security, promote racial equity, ensure all kids have access to great schools, and build thriving communities for everyone.</p>
<p>Stay tuned for the next publications in the <em>Progress in Washington</em> series, which will explore policy solutions that address the barriers to opportunities described in the <a class="external-link" href="../building-an-inclusive-economy/pdf_version">“Building an Inclusive Economy” report</a>.</p>
<p><strong><em><a class="external-link" href="../building-an-inclusive-economy/pdf_version">“Building an Inclusive Economy”</a> is the first report in our </em>Progress in Washington 2018 <em>series. The report is intended to offer a framework for understanding the challenges before us. To reach the goal of an inclusive Washington state economy with shared prosperity for everyone, we need to know where we are, where we need to be, and how we can get there.</em></strong></p>
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No publisherJennifer TranProgress IndexIncome InequalityCommunityHealth CarePovertyEconomic SecurityEquityEducation2017-12-13T21:42:01ZBlog EntryGovernor’s initiative on economic security is a big win for Washington’s familieshttp://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/governor2019s-initiative-on-economic-security-is-a-big-win-for-washington2019s-families-1
<p>Governor Inslee <a class="external-link" href="https://medium.com/wagovernor/inslee-creates-work-group-on-economic-security-dcbd77308374">has created a new inter-agency work group on family economic security</a> that is a big step in the right direction to help families move themselves out of poverty in our state. The work group will be tasked with developing a 10-year strategy for poverty reduction in Washington state, based on an intergenerational approach to addressing poverty.</p>
<p><a class="external-link" href="we-need-a-two-generation-approach-to-end-child-poverty/?searchterm=two%20generation">Intergenerational approaches</a> to poverty promote the economic well-being of whole families across generations so that children can thrive and reach their full potential. The approach is centered around coordinated support for families across five key areas: high-quality early childhood education; higher education and career pathways; asset building; health and well-being; and social capital.</p>
<p><img class="image-inline image-inline" src="/schmudget/copy_of_cutefamily.jpg/image_preview" alt="Family economic security" /></p>
<p>Nationally, similar initiatives that focus on economic success of families, as opposed to a focus on children or adults alone or in silos – are gaining momentum and showing very promising results. In Colorado, Utah, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Oklahoma – to name just a few states – early investment in intergenerational programs are paying off and are leading to living-wage careers for parents, better education outcomes for kids, and a low rate of return to social benefit programs.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The governor’s directive to create this work group is an important step to help families move out of poverty. It is also an important step to grow the middle class so that more residents can benefit from economic growth. As more families move out of poverty permanently and contribute to economic activity, that will pay dividends for the state economy.</p>
<p>The directive was the result of bipartisan efforts advance intergenerational strategies to address poverty in Washington. The creation of the work group is a sign that Washington’s leaders are turning a new page on how we go about policy development on economic security. The initiative calls for broad participation by state agencies, stakeholders, employers, people who are in poverty, and other communities that have historically not been included in conversations on public policy.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Advancing poverty reduction policies using an intergenerational approach has long been <a class="external-link" href="intergenerational-poverty-bill-would-help-lift-children-and-their-parents-out-of-poverty">a priority of the Washington State Budget &amp; Policy Center</a>. We look forward to continuing to work with the governor and his staff as well as with legislators and other key stakeholders to develop specific data-driven policy recommendations to reach poverty-reduction goals. This is a monumental step toward ensuring that every child, parent, and grandparent in Washington is able to reach their full potential and thrive.</p>
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No publisherJulie WattsState RevenuePovertyEconomic Security2017-12-01T00:47:38ZBlog EntryKIDS COUNT Report: Barriers to Opportunity Prevent Children of Color and Immigrant Children from Reaching Their Full Potentialhttp://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/kids-count-report-barriers-to-opportunity-prevent-children-of-color-and-immigrant-children-from-reaching-their-full-potential
<p align="center" style="text-align: left;">The United States and Washington state are stronger when we harness the talents and drive of all people – including children – who will help build the nation’s future. For our country and state to reach our full economic, democratic, and moral potential, all children must have the opportunity to grow, develop, and thrive. A new Annie E. Casey Foundation <a class="external-link" href="http://www.aecf.org/m/resourcedoc/aecf-2017raceforresults-2017.pdf">report</a> shows that too many young people of color are still facing barriers to a bright future, however. While there have been modest gains in terms of the well-being of kids of color in Washington state over the last three years, the report notes that families of diverse backgrounds, including immigrant families, struggle against barriers to success. Policymakers must enact policies to level the playing field for all kids.</p>
<p align="center" style="text-align: left;"><a class="external-link" href="http://www.aecf.org/resources/2017-race-for-results/"><img class="image-inline image-inline" src="/schmudget/Washington_AECF_RaceForResults_socialNumbers_v21.png/image_preview" alt="2017_AECF_Race_for_Results" /></a></p>
<p align="left">The Casey Foundation report, <a class="external-link" href="http://www.aecf.org/m/resourcedoc/aecf-2017raceforresults-2017.pdf">2017 Race for Results: Building a Path to Opportunity for All Children</a>, measures children’s progress on the national and state levels in key education, health, and economic milestones by racial and ethnic groups. It shows that, in Washington state, Latino children, Black children, and American Indian children have lower overall scores of wellness compared to White and Asian and Pacific Islander children. Specifically, the report uses a composite score of child wellness based on a range of data indicators – with 1 being the lowest score and 1,000 being the highest. Latino, Black, and American Indian children scored 401, 456, and 459 respectively, while White children and Asian Pacific Islander children scored 719 and 756.</p>
<p align="left">The 2017 Race for Results report also highlights the fact that children in immigrant families face some notable barriers:</p>
<ul><li>Two-thirds of Washington children in U.S.-born headed households live in households with a basic-needs income or greater (above 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or $40,320 for a family of three 2016), while <strong>just one in two children in immigrant families have an income sufficient to meet their basic needs</strong>. That income gap is larger in Washington than at the national level.</li><li>Children in immigrant families are <strong>less likely to grow up with a head of household who has at least a high school diploma</strong>.</li></ul>
<p>More than 440,000 (28 percent) of Washington’s 1.6 million kids are children in immigrant families. Four out of five of immigrant children are children of color. Despite the challenges they face, children and young adults in immigrant families are also doing well on some measures:</p>
<ul><li><strong>Black and Asian Pacific Islander 3- and 4-year olds in immigrant families have the same or higher rates of enrollment</strong> in nursery school, preschool, or kindergarten than the Washington state average overall (60 percent).</li><li><strong>Young adults aged 19 to 26 in immigrant families also tend to be working or enrolled in a degree, training, or certificate program at the same rates as their U.S.-born peer</strong>s.</li><li><strong>Black, White, and Asian Pacific Islander young adults in immigrant families are more likely to have an associate’s degree or other advanced degree</strong>.</li></ul>
<p>The report underscores the formidable risks to healthy child development in immigrant families and for children of color that are caused by issues such as lack of access to living-wage jobs, limited educational opportunities, and family separation. These risks are further exacerbated by policies that limit resources and restrict access. Immigrant families are also facing policy proposals that threaten the residency status of 800,000 young people who have been granted a reprieve from fear of deportation through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Washington state is home to <a class="external-link" href="https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Resources/Reports and Studies/Immigration Forms Data/All Form Types/DACA/daca_performancedata_fy2017_qtr2.pdf">19,000 of the 800,000 DACA recipients</a>.<em><br /></em></p>
<p><em>All </em>children need to reach their full potential if we are to reach ours as a nation. This means lawmakers must break down systemic barriers to opportunity placed in front of many children of color and immigrant children. With regard to immigrant children in particular, much of this country’s future success depends on how we equip immigrant families with the tools and skills that enable them to contribute to local economies – as immigrants have done since the founding of this country. The 2017 Race for Results report makes several recommendations to maximize children’s access to opportunity:</p>
<ul><li><strong>Keep families together</strong>. Immigration authorities and family courts can protect kids from adverse experiences by exercising discretion in choosing whether to separate parents from their children.</li><li><strong>Help kids in communities of color, both immigrant and U.S.-born, to meet key developmental milestones</strong>. Policymakers can do more to link eligible families to quality early learning led by culturally competent teachers. More states, universities, and colleges can help qualified students pay for college without regard to immigration status.</li><li><strong>Increase economic opportunity</strong>. Among the actions state policymakers can take is to increase access to occupational licenses and credentials to income-earning parents who entered their professions in foreign countries, boosting the prospects for higher household income.</li></ul>
<p><strong><em>To read more about how Washington’s kids are progressing on key milestones across racial and ethnic groups compared to the nation and other states, read the full <a class="external-link" href="http://www.aecf.org/m/resourcedoc/aecf-2017raceforresults-2017.pdf">2017 Race for Results: Building a Path to Opportunity for All Children</a> report</em></strong><strong><em> and our KIDS COUNT in Washington <a class="external-link" href="http://childrensalliance.org/resources/news/state-federal-lawmakers-must-take-steps-enhance-opportunity-success-kids">press release</a></em></strong><strong><em>.</em></strong><br /><br /></p>
No publisherJennifer TranPovertyEconomic SecurityEquityKids CountEducation2017-10-24T14:31:53ZBlog EntryNew Census Numbers: To Build Thriving Communities, Invest in Removing Barriers to Economic Securityhttp://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/new-census-numbers-to-build-thriving-communities-invest-in-removing-barriers-to-economic-security
<p><a class="external-link" href="https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2017/income-povery.html">New data</a> released by the U.S. Census Bureau shows that there is some good news when it comes to poverty rates and access to health care in our state. At the same time, the data shows that many Washingtonians – in particular, some communities of color, women, and people with disabilities – still face barriers to economic security. The numbers make it clear that to build thriving communities, our policymakers must invest in priorities that remove obstacles to prosperity for Washingtonians.</p>
<p>First the good news: Last year, the poverty rate in Washington state declined slightly to 11.3 percent from 12.2 percent in 2015. And between 2013 and 2016, the rate of people with health insurance increased to 94 percent from 86 percent.<br /><br />The fact that fewer Washingtonians are living in poverty is likely due to economic growth and a low unemployment rate. And the insurance rate is more evidence that the Affordable Care Act has been extremely effective in ensuring more people can afford to have access to a doctor and preventive health services.<br /><br />Yet the numbers also reveal that despite economic growth, far too many residents of Washington face barriers to economic security, especially people of color, women, and people with disabilities. In fact, the poverty rate for some communities of color in Washington is nearly two to three times that of whites. Systemic barriers are impacting many people’s ability to put food on the table and pay for their housing. For example:</p>
<ul><li>Twenty-seven percent of American Indian/Alaska Natives, 23 percent of Blacks, 20 percent of Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders, and 19 percent of Latinos live in poverty.</li><li>Among full-time workers, women earned 75 percent of what men earned in 2016.<br /></li><li>One in four working age Washingtonians with a disability live below the federal poverty line, compared to one in ten adults without disabilities.&nbsp;</li></ul>
<p><br />Further, when looking at the data over a longer time period, they show those facing the greatest hardship are not reaping the benefits of economic growth. In fact, more people in Washington are living in deep poverty – below 50 percent of the federal poverty line, which is less than $10,080 a year for a family of three in 2016 – than in 2006. The number of Washingtonians living in deep poverty grew by 17 percent between over the last decade (See figure below).</p>
<p align="center" class="discreet">(Click on graphic to enlarge)</p>
<p align="center" class="discreet"><a class="external-link" href="washingtonians-in-deep-poverty-2006-16/pdf_version"><img class="image-inline image-inline" src="/schmudget/2017_09_19_Deep_Poverty_Blog_Post_Chart.jpg/image_preview" alt="Washingtonians in Deep Poverty" /></a></p>
<p>Our economy and our communities will be stronger when everyone is able to not only to make ends meet, but also to have a better future – and when lawmakers act to undo systemic and institutional barriers that prevent people from having equal access to opportunity.<br /><br />While it is good news that there is declining poverty overall and greater rates of health insurance coverage in our state, the new Census numbers nevertheless underscore that too many people are still facing financial hardship. In order to build thriving communities, lawmakers in our state need to make investments that enable all our residents to thrive. Further, federal policymakers must protect essential health care coverage&nbsp;–&nbsp;pushing back against continued efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act&nbsp;–&nbsp;and they must protect programs that ensure that when people hit hard times, they don’t go without the basics.</p>
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No publisherJulie WattsFederal IssuesHealth CarePovertyEconomic SecurityEquity2017-10-17T17:49:50ZBlog Entry State and Federal Proposals to Cut Funding for Women’s Health Would Decrease Family Economic Securityhttp://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/state-and-federal-proposals-to-cut-funding-for-women2019s-health-would-decrease-family-economic-security
<div>By Misha Werschkul, executive director</div>
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<div>Building economic security for Washington's women is an essential component of creating a thriving economy in our state. Nearly 500,000 women and more than 20 percent of Black, Hispanic, and Native American women live in poverty in Washington. Many factors contribute to high poverty rates among women, and especially among women of color – including the gender wage gap, a disproportionately high percentage of women working low-wage jobs, and the lack of universal paid leave programs and child care supports. Access to health care– including high-quality pre- and post-natal care – and the ability to choose when and under what circumstances to start a family are also critical ingredients of family economic security.</div>
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<p>Investments in the wellbeing of women are critical to any serious strategy to address inequality or reduce poverty. And investing in the full spectrum of women’s health services in particular is an important step toward strengthening the economic security of women and families.</p>
<p>The good news is Washington state has made significant progress in expanding health care access for women and in reducing unintended pregnancies. Under the Affordable Care Act, the number of uninsured women in Washington state has dropped to historic lows. And as the KIDS COUNT Data Center shows, Washington’s teen birth rate has fallen from 25 teen births per thousand in 2011 to 18 teen births per thousand in 2015. King County has the second lowest teen pregnancy rate in the country. Expanding health care and reducing unintended pregnancies is good for women and families, and it’s also cost effective for states.</p>
<p>However, this progress is being threatened. Recent federal and state proposals would pay for tax cuts for the wealthy at the expense of investments that support women and communities. In the next few weeks, we anticipate the release of the 2018 federal budget and a compromise 2017-2019 state budget, not to mention the U.S. Senate’s health care bill. Elected leaders must ensure legislation invests in programs that help promote economic security for women and families.&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong>Federal Threats </strong></h3>
<p>Washington’s women face a multitude of threats from federal proposals, ranging from the repeal the Affordable Care Act to President Trump’s 2018 budget proposal to the possibility of new regulations affecting birth control from his administration. Especially when combined with deep cuts to federal programs that disproportionately serve women and children – like housing and energy assistance, job training, and hunger relief – these cuts to women’s heath are a recipe for increased economic insecurity. Federal proposals include:</p>
<ul><li><strong>Cutting Medicaid</strong> – Federal proposals to eliminate the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion and make deep cuts to Medicaid would jeopardize health care for nearly one million women in Washington state (see graph below). In fact, women make up a majority of Medicaid beneficiaries and therefore face a disproportionate burden of proposed cuts to the program. Medicaid is a key support for women on multiple fronts: Working women who don’t have employer-sponsored coverage are able to get health insurance coverage through the Medicaid expansion; women of reproductive age rely on Medicaid for family-planning and maternity care services (importantly, Medicaid provides health care for nearly half of all pregnant women nationwide); and older women and women with disabilities are the primary users of Medicaid long-term services and supports. In addition, Medicaid serves women of all races and ethnicities in Washington.&nbsp;</li></ul>
<p style="text-align: center;" class="discreet">[Click on graphic to enlarge.]</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a class="external-link" href="../medicaid-enrollment-women-and-girls-2017-pdf/pdf_version"><img class="image-inline image-inline" src="/images/2017_06_14_women_girls_medicaid_enrollment_race_ethnicity.jpg/image_preview" alt="Women girls medicaid enrollment" /></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<ul><li><strong>Defunding Planned Parenthood</strong> – Congressional Republicans have put forward multiple proposals to ban Planned Parenthood from receiving federal and state funds through the Medicaid program and to allow states to exclude them from the Title X family-planning program. These funds are currently used to provide family-planning and a wide range of critical health care services like cancer screenings to more than 98,000 low-income women and men at 32 health care centers in Washington state. Several of Washington’s Planned Parenthood clinics are the only clinic in their county that offers the full range of contraceptive health services, including longer-acting methods like intrauterine devices that are the most effective at preventing pregnancy. Defunding Planned Parenthood would jeopardize health care for thousands of low-income women in Washington state and increase economic insecurity as a result of unplanned pregnancies.&nbsp;</li></ul>
<ul><li><strong>Reducing coverage for newborn and maternity care and birth control </strong>– The Affordable Care Act repeal legislation from House Republicans removes the requirement for publicly funded health insurance to cover the full range of health care services, including newborn and maternity care. In addition, the Trump administration is considering rule-making that would remove the requirement for insurers to provide copay-free birth control. Both of these changes would mean that women who have health insurance coverage would have to pay more money out of pocket to get their health care needs met.</li></ul>
<h3>State Threats</h3>
<p>Washington state legislators are continuing to negotiate the 2017-2019 biennial state budget in order to avoid a state government shutdown on July 1, 2017. This year, <a class="external-link" href="the-house-revenue-plan-shows-how-to-make-smart-long-term-investments-in-communities">budget writers have an opportunity to clean up the tax code</a> to make historic investments in ensuring every child in Washington has access to quality public education. However, <a class="external-link" href="don2019t-let-the-talking-points-fool-you-senate-republicans2019-budget-proposal-is-a-house-of-cards">the Senate Republicans’ approach</a> is largely to protect tax breaks for wealthy special interests and fund investments in schools at the expense of other important priorities like child care and job training for low-income parents.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The State Senate's proposals would also reduce state family-planning funding.&nbsp;On top of cuts being proposed at the federal level, state Senate Republicans propose a 10 percent reduction to state funds that provide family-planning services, which would result in reduced access to women’s health services.</p>
<p>Especially with federal threats looming, Washington state leaders should be doing everything possible to protect women and build on the progress that has been made in our state.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Economic security and women’s health are fundamentally intertwined. If we want to have an economy that works for everyone, we simply can’t ignore women’s health. As federal and state policymakers develop new budget proposals, they must focus on advancing economic security by investing in the full spectrum of women’s health services.&nbsp;</p>
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No publisherMelinda Young-FlynnFederal IssuesPovertyEconomic Security2017-06-19T19:28:40ZBlog EntryNew Report: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Critical to the Wellbeing of Many Washingtonians with Disabilitieshttp://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/new-report-supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-critical-to-the-wellbeing-of-washingtonians-with-disabilities
<div>According to a <a class="external-link" href="http://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/snap-provides-needed-food-assistance-to-millions-of-people-with">new report</a> by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – which provides basic food support to people with lower incomes – helps 126,000 Washingtonians with disabilities secure a better quality of life and protect their basic health. The report underscores the key role SNAP plays in lifting people with disabilities out of poverty, helping them put food on the table, and contributing to a wide range of&nbsp;positive&nbsp;long-term health and economic outcomes.</div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<img class="image-right" src="/schmudget/WhatisaDisability.jpg/image_preview" alt="What is a Disability" height="235" width="235" />
<p>Far too many Washingtonians with disabilities are just one accident or mishap from financial catastrophe. SNAP plays a vital role in providing them with added financial security. Further, by ensuring they have the resources for adequate nutrition, SNAP offers them a key foundation of good health. Policymakers must protect this important program against funding cuts being proposed by Congress and President Trump.</p>
<p>Two out of five non-elderly individuals with disabilities in Washington state participate in SNAP. For them, it is an especially important resource because having a disability can make life more expensive and can make it harder to earn enough money to buy food and other necessities.</p>
<p>People with disabilities are more likely to live in poverty than those who don’t. In fact, as seen in the chart below, 33 percent of children with disabilities live below the federal poverty line in Washington state, compared to 21 percent of non-disabled children. And among 18 to 64 year olds, people with disabilities are twice as likely to live in poverty than non-disabled people.&nbsp;Given that this is the time of life when most people are in the workforce, earning income, and saving money, this data underscores how much harder it can be for people with disabilities to make ends meet without basic supports like SNAP.</p>
<p align="center" class="discreet">[Click on graphic to enlarge.]</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a class="external-link" href="../snap_poverty_disabilities_graphic/pdf_version"><img class="image-inline" src="/schmudget/copy_of_2017_06_14_Poverty_Disability_2015_Census_5year.jpg/image_preview" alt="People with Disabilities are More Likely to Live in Poverty in WA" /></a></p>
<p>Despite the fact that SNAP provides important nutrition benefits to millions of low-income people with disabilities nationwide, President Trump has proposed shifting 25 percent of the federal cost of the program to states, <a class="external-link" href="http://www.cbpp.org/research/state-budget-and-tax/president-trumps-budget-would-shift-snap-costs-to-states-increasing#_ftn1">which would cost Washington state an additional $363 million a year</a>. Congressional House Republicans are also in the process of negotiating a 2018 budget resolution that will likely propose sweeping changes to SNAP, including cuts to overall spending and shifting costs to states. Among the other things the president and Congressional Republicans have proposed are:</p>
<ul><li><strong>The elimination of a small SNAP benefit (called the “minimum SNAP benefit”) that seniors and people with disabilities can qualify for in connection with other public supports.</strong>&nbsp;This modest amount of additional assistance is critical for people living in poverty.</li><li><strong>Limits on the length of time people living in communities with high unemployment can receive SNAP</strong>. This is yet another challenge for people with disabilities who already have a difficult time finding work.</li><li><strong>New fees imposed on grocers who accept SNAP benefits,</strong> which will result in many grocers opting out of the program. This will obviously make it harder for SNAP participants to find stores where they can use their food assistance benefits.</li></ul>
<p>Not only will none of these proposals help people move out of poverty; they will actually increase hardship for working families and millions of Americans with disabilities. <br /><br />SNAP plays a vital role in ensuring that many Washingtonians with disabilities can put food on the table and have an opportunity to move out of poverty. As Congressional budget writers in Washington D.C. sit down to figure out how they will allocate public resources, Washington state’s elected officials should ensure that all residents – especially those with disabilities – have access to basic supports like SNAP.</p>
<p><em>To find out more about how SNAP is a critical resource for many people with disabilities, read the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’ report, <a class="external-link" href="http://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/snap-provides-needed-food-assistance-to-millions-of-people-with">“SNAP Provides Needed Food Assistance to Millions of People with Disabilities.”</a></em></p>
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No publisherJulie WattsFederal IssuesPovertyEconomic Security2017-06-16T19:31:25ZBlog EntryKIDS COUNT Report: Washington Continues to See Historic Progress in Kids’ Health Care Accesshttp://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/washington-sees-historic-progress-in-kids-health-care-access
<p align="left">The number of Washington state children with health insurance has risen to historic highs, with 39 of every 40 kids in the state now covered by health insurance. Further, disparities in access to health care have been reduced across nearly all racial and ethnic groups. This according to the <em><a class="external-link" href="http://www.aecf.org/resources/2017-kids-count-data-book/">2017 KIDS COUNT Data Book</a> </em>released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the <a class="external-link" href="http://datacenter.kidscount.org/">KIDS COUNT Data Center</a>. Given this monumental progress toward strengthening the long-term health and well-being of Washington’s kids, our representatives in Washington, D.C. must reject harmful federal policy proposals that would send kids’ health backward.</p>
<p align="center"><a class="external-link" href="http://www.aecf.org/resources/2017-kids-count-data-book/"><img class="image-inline image-inline" src="/schmudget/AECF_KidsCount17_Soundbite_Washington.jpg/image_preview" alt="WA_KCDB_2017_Health_Insurance_Soundbite" /></a></p>
<p>Washington state's <a class="external-link" href="https://www.childrensalliance.org/resource/washingtons-cover-all-kids-law-summary">Cover All Kids</a> law, passed in 2007, combined with the 2014 implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have helped reduce the number of uninsured Washington children by more than half, to 3 percent today from 6 percent in 2011. This improvement underscores how smart federal investments to expand Washington state’s Apple Health for Kids has significantly enabled more kids to see a doctor or get necessary medicines when they’re sick.</p>
<p>As the chart below shows, these policies have also advanced health equity by connecting more Black, Latino, and Asian and Pacific Islander (API) children with the coverage they need to thrive. Today, only 2 percent of Black and API and 3 percent of Latino children are without health insurance. With the exception of American Indian children, coverage gaps among children of different races and ethnicities have narrowed since 2011. Ten percent of American Indian kids remain uninsured in Washington state.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" class="discreet">[Click on image to enlarge.]</p>
<div align="center"><a title="Uninsurance rates by race/ethnicity updated 12June2017" class="internal-link" href="/schmudget/copy_of_2017_06_12_Uninsurance_rates_by_race_ethnicity_2011to2015.jpg.jpg"><img class="image-inline" src="/schmudget/copy_of_2017_06_12_Uninsurance_rates_by_race_ethnicity_2011to2015.jpg.jpg/image_large" alt="Uninsurance rates by race/ethnicity updated 12June2017" height="306" width="454" /></a></div>
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Unfortunately, this progress toward covering more kids is <a class="external-link" href="https://www.childrensalliance.org/blog/threat-apple-health-kids">threatened </a>by federal policy proposals that would make huge cuts to health care for people with low incomes. The proposal to “repeal and replace” the ACA with the American Health Care Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is now being negotiated by the U.S. Senate. It would effectively end the Medicaid expansion that led so many more children from families with low incomes to get health insurance through Apple Health for Kids in Washington. Furthermore, the president’s proposed budget would also slash Medicaid funding to the state nearly<a class="external-link" href="http://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-budget/trump-budget-gets-three-fifths-of-its-cuts-from-programs-for-low-and"> in half by 2027</a>.</p>
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<p>We all have a responsibility to ensure all of Washington’s kids have the opportunity to have a healthy start in life. At a time when far too many Washington families are just one personal crisis away from a financial catastrophe, it is vital that families can afford basic preventative health care for their children and can take them to a doctor when they need to. State and federal lawmakers must protect the health and economic security of kids and families against harmful budget proposals. They must safeguard the great progress our state has made in covering more children and closing racial and ethnic gaps in health coverage.</p>
<p><strong><em>To read more about how Washington’s kids rank nationally in economic well-being, education, health, and family and community, read the full </em><a class="external-link" href="http://www.aecf.org/resources/2017-kids-count-data-book/">2017 KIDS COUNT Data Book</a><em>, the one-page KIDS COUNT <a class="external-link" href="http://www.aecf.org/m/databook/2017KC_profiles_WA.pdf">Washington state 2017 profile</a>, and our KIDS COUNT in Washington <a class="external-link" href="http://www.aecf.org/m/databook/2017KC_newsrelease_WA.pdf">press release</a>. </em></strong><br /><br /></p>
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No publisherJennifer TranKids CountHealth CarePovertyEconomic Security2017-06-13T13:58:52ZBlog EntryImportant Gains Have Been Made for a Better Future for Our State, but More Needs to Be Donehttp://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/some-important-gains-have-been-made-for-a-better-future-for-washington-but-much-more-remains-to-be-done
<p>Washington’s elected leaders have an opportunity to ensure that all our residents have strong communities and the chance for a bright future. During the 2017 regular legislative session, state policymakers did pass some important bills – <a class="external-link" href="the-future-we-want-the-washington-state-budget-policy-center-announces-our-2017-2019-legislative-agenda">some of which are priorities for the Budget &amp; Policy Center</a> – to advance the wellbeing of Washingtonians. They include expanding access to early learning, enhancing educational opportunities for working parents, and supporting policies that would help reduce disparities in K-12 education. Yet they also left some very important policy decisions on the table to be worked out in the final budget.<br /><br />The following highlights of key victories from the legislative session are great examples of what can be done to advance progress for working families for our state. As state policymakers move into a special session to negotiate the budget, they should build on these efforts to ensure the final budget secures a better future for all our residents.</p>
<h3>Giving Washington’s Kids a Better, More Equitable Start</h3>
<p><br />Washington state could be on track to expand the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP), a key program for ensuring Washington kids have a solid foundation for early learning and care. Although the expansion is not a done deal, both the House and Senate budget proposals included plans to increase the number of 3 and 4 year olds in the program. However, only the House proposal included enough slots to put the state on track to meet its goal of covering the entire population of eligible kids who are not currently being served. If the final budget includes the funding, this would represent a significant step toward making sure all kids in Washington can get a great start in life. A recent <a class="external-link" href="../kids-count-eceap-research-brief-apr-2017/pdf_version">research brief</a> by KIDS COUNT in Washington – a collaboration between the Budget &amp; Policy Center and the <a class="external-link" href="https://www.childrensalliance.org/">Children’s Alliance</a> – found that expanding ECEAP could reduce disparities by race in K-12 readiness for kids across the state. The final budget must fund this expansion, and it must also include funding for ECEAP child care centers to build out their classrooms and facilities to accommodate more kids.<br /><br />Policymakers also took another important step to advance racial equity for kids in schools by passing <a class="external-link" href="http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2017-18/Pdf/Bill%20Reports/House/1445-S%20HBR%20PL%2017.pdf">House Bill 1445</a>, the Dual Language Learning Bill. Research has shown that one of the best ways to increase student achievement for both English-speaking kids and kids who are learning English as a second or third language is through dual language programs, which are programs that offer instruction to kids in two languages. Policymakers on both sides of the aisle took the important step to pass the bill to expand the program, but House and Senate budget proposals would have funded the program at different levels. Lawmakers should follow the urging of <a class="external-link" href="http://weareoneamerica.org">OneAmerica</a>, the group that developed the legislation, and invest at least $4.5 million in funding for the program.<br /><br />These investments are important steps forward for kids in our state. The final budget should also make sure that Washington’s kids and families have access to high-quality, affordable child care. The House has wisely proposed to do this by increasing pay for state-funded child care workers and increasing reimbursement rates for child care centers in the Working Connections Child Care program, a program that helps parents with low incomes pay for child care so they can go to work or train for a job.</p>
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<p class="callout"><em><strong>The Budget &amp; Policy Center is helping to shape the conversation on reducing disparities in education.</strong>&nbsp;For more details on how an ECEAP expansion and dual language learning can reduce disparities, check out our recent <a class="external-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brYQj7Dwc4E">Budget Beat webinar</a>, featuring the director of education and integration policy at OneAmerica.</em>&nbsp;</p>
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<h3>Providing More Opportunities for Working Families to Get Ahead</h3>
<p><br />Everyone benefits when hardworking families have opportunities to get better-paying jobs and provide for their families. Two important bipartisan bills advanced this session that would create greater opportunities for working families. Policymakers in both parties passed <a class="external-link" href="http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2017-18/Pdf/Bill%20Reports/Senate/1566-S%20SBR%20WM%2017.pdf">House Bill 1566</a>/<a class="external-link" href="http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2017-18/Pdf/Bill%20Reports/Senate/5347-S2%20SBR%20FBR%2017.pdf">Senate Bill 5347</a> which will allow parents on WorkFirst – Washington’s assistance and job training program for families striving to move out of poverty – to pursue 24 months of post-secondary education and training, rather than the current limit of 12 months. Research has found that people who get at least 54 credit hours of post-secondary education are more likely to be stably employed and earn more money over the long term.<br /><br />Both Republicans and Democrats also worked to advance <a class="external-link" href="http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2017-18/Pdf/Bill%20Reports/House/1482%20HBR%20APP%2017.pdf">House Bill 1482</a>/<a class="external-link" href="http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2017-18/Pdf/Bill%20Reports/Senate/5440%20SBA%20WM%2017.pdf">Senate Bill 5440</a> to prevent intergenerational poverty – a key Budget &amp; Policy Center legislative priority&nbsp; – which would create a new goal for the state to reduce the number of people living in poverty by half by 2025 through an <a class="external-link" href="intergenerational-poverty-bill-would-help-lift-children-and-their-parents-out-of-poverty">intergenerational approach</a>. Both the House and Senate budgets included funding for the bill in their budget proposals and the House bill passed with support from both parties. Now policymakers should include the bill in the final budget.</p>
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<p class="callout"><em>Our team is on the ground in Olympia! View our testimony on <a class="external-link" href="https://www.tvw.org/watch/?clientID=9375922947&amp;eventID=2017021063&amp;eventID=2017021063&amp;startStreamAt=1298&amp;stopStreamAt=1432&amp;autoStartStream=true">access to post-secondary education</a> for families on WorkFirst before the House Early Learning and Human Services Committee. You can also watch our testimony <a class="external-link" href="https://www.tvw.org/watch/?clientID=9375922947&amp;eventID=2017021063&amp;eventID=2017021063&amp;startStreamAt=258&amp;stopStreamAt=455&amp;autoStartStream=true">addressing intergenerational poverty</a>.</em></p>
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<h3>Removing Barriers for People to Re-enter their Communities:</h3>
<p><br />Policymakers took important steps to provide educational opportunities for people who are incarcerated by passing <a class="external-link" href="http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2017-18/Pdf/Bill%20Reports/Senate/5069-S%20SBR%20FBR%2017.pdf">Senate Bill 5069</a>, the College in Prisons bill, which would allow people in prison in Washington to get an associate’s degree while serving their sentence. Research indicates that getting a post-secondary degree can reduce the likelihood that a person will be re-incarcerated by half. This is a huge step forward to ensure that people leaving prison have access to meaningful opportunities for a better life.<br /><br />However, it is important to note that there were two significant missed opportunities with important re-entry bills that did not advance this session. The Fair Chance Act, <a class="external-link" href="http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2017-18/Pdf/Bill%20Reports/Senate/1298-S%20SBA%20CLS%2017.pdf">House Bill 1298</a>/<a class="external-link" href="http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2017-18/Pdf/Bill%20Reports/House/5312-S.E%20HBR%20APP%2017.pdf">Senate Bill 5312</a>, would have prevented employers from discriminating against people with convictions on job applications. Policymakers also failed to pass <a class="external-link" href="http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2017-18/Pdf/Bill%20Reports/Senate/1783-S2.E%20SBR%20LAW%2017.pdf">House Bill 1783</a>, which would reform the state’s legal financial obligations (LFO) policy. LFOs are fines and fees a person may need to pay connected with their conviction. While in prison – when a person is unable to work to earn an income – interest on unpaid fees can accumulate at an interest rate of 12 percent. The LFO reform bill would have improved this system to make it easier for people to pay of this debt and fulfill their sentence. Moving forward, lawmakers must take steps to remove the systemic barriers that exist for Washingtonians who are trying to re-enter and contribute to their communities.<br /><br /></p>
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<p class="callout"><em>We are highlighting important conversations at civic events!&nbsp;Read more about the need for LFO reform in this <a class="external-link" href="../about-us/budget-matters-conference/LFO%20Reform%20Presentation.pdf">slideshow</a> from a panel at our Budget Matters 2016 Policy Conference.</em></p>
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<p><br />As the legislature moves into special session to write the budget, lawmakers must make sure the final budget secures a future for Washington that we all want: great schools, strong families, healthy communities. So far, the <a class="external-link" href="http://www.budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/house-democrats-budget-shows-what-our-state-can-achieve-by-cleaning-up-the-tax-code">House budget proposal</a> is a step in that direction that would secure the <a class="external-link" href="http://www.budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/the-house-revenue-plan-shows-how-to-make-smart-long-term-investments-in-communities">revenue necessary</a> to make important investments in our communities. The Senate budget proposal, by contrast, would <a class="external-link" href="http://www.budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/senate-republican-budget-proposal-would-harm-the-wellbeing-of-children-families-and-people-with-disabilities-in-washington">harm children, families and people with disabilities in Washington</a>. Securing a strong future for our state will require leadership from both parties and the willingness to make the right investments on behalf of Washington residents. Now it is time to get to work on that important task.</p>
No publisherJulie WattsCommunityCriminal JusticePovertyEconomic SecurityKids Count2017-05-09T14:24:39ZBlog EntryDon’t Let the Talking Points Fool You: Senate Republicans’ Budget Proposal Is a House of Cardshttp://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/don2019t-let-the-talking-points-fool-you-senate-republicans2019-budget-proposal-is-a-house-of-cards
<div>By Andy Nicholas, associate director of fiscal policy, and Kelli Smith, policy analyst</div>
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<p>The state budget is not just a statement of our values. It is also a foundation and framework for delivering the everyday services that benefit us all – like ensuring everyone has the opportunity to thrive, making sure we have clean water to drink and air to breathe, and keeping school buses and fire trucks running each day. Republican leaders in the state Senate have proposed <a class="external-link" href="http://leap.leg.wa.gov/leap/Budget/Detail/2017/soSummary_0321.pdf">a two-year spending plan</a> that would profoundly weaken that framework by slashing vital investments that help Washington’s communities and people prosper – and by failing to come up with the revenue needed to fund schools and other key priorities. Their plan would turn the state budget into a house of cards, at risk of collapsing at the first sign of a slowdown in the economy. And the human cost in terms of the well-being of Washingtonians would be staggering.</p>
<p>Building a responsible and sustainable budget requires lawmakers to take steps toward fixing Washington’s upside-down tax code, which taxes middle- and lower-income households at significantly higher rates than those at the very top of the income scale. Yet the proposal from Republican leaders in the state Senate offers no meaningful reforms to the state’s flawed tax code.</p>
<p>Far from raising the substantial new revenue needed to <a class="external-link" href="funding-schools-for-washington2019s-kids-can2019t-be-done-through-property-tax-gimmicks">fully fund education</a> and protect the programs that help Washingtonians who are struggling to make ends meet, their <a class="external-link" href="mccleary-reality-check-legitimate-solutions-required-to-fully-fund-schools">“levy swap” proposal</a> would actually reduce overall property tax resources for schools in our state. It would also be deeply inequitable, raising taxes on millions of lower- and middle-income homeowners and renters in the Puget Sound region.</p>
<p>What’s more, Senate Republicans actually propose creating or extending nine tax breaks, totaling $13.5 million in giveaways in the 2017-2019 budget cycle.</p>
<p>Rather than working to flip our tax code right-side up and improve our quality of life, Senate Republican leaders propose a state budget that nominally balances, but only with the help of unsustainable gimmicks, such as:</p>
<ul><li><strong>Forcing future lawmakers to make deep cuts </strong>to non-K-12 investments – such as health care, child care, job training, safe communities, and other important investments – by dedicating all future revenue growth to maintaining K-12 spending and property tax cuts.<br /></li><li><strong>Draining $700 million in reserve savings from our state’s rainy day fund,</strong> the budget stabilization account, which is an essential backstop that prevents severe disruptions in funding for our most important services during recessions and other state emergencies. And Senate Republican leaders offer no plan to replenish it.<br /></li><li><strong>Sweeping $63 million from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)</strong> <strong>to pay for other unrelated budget items.</strong> TANF is an essential resource for families trying to get back on their feet. This proposal would take much-needed resources out of programs that help the people who have the hardest time making ends meet and dole those resources out for other investments.&nbsp;</li></ul>
<p>As shown in the chart below, the budget proposal from Senate Republicans would boost state funding for education, but at the expense of essential investments in Washingtonians’ economic security and in community development and trust. Within those categories are programs that are essential to many Washingtonians – programs like TANF, Housing and Essential Needs, state retirement contributions for first responders, and the programs we all count on to protect our legal rights. Thousands of Washingtonians’ lives would be severely and negatively affected by these cuts – and in many cases, they are the people who are already struggling just to get by every day.</p>
<p align="center" style="text-align: left;" class="discreet">(Click on graphic to see enlarged version.)</p>
<p><strong><a class="external-link" href="../images/2017_03_21_Senate_Budget_Change_from_Maintenance.jpg"><img class="image-left" src="/images/copy2_of_copy_of_2017_03_21_Senate_Budget_Change_from_Maintenance.jpg/image_preview" alt="Senate budget 2017 graphic" /></a></strong></p>
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<p>The proposed changes to funding, according to the major value areas laid out in the Budget &amp; Policy Center’s <a class="external-link" href="../policy-areas/progress-index">Progress Index framework</a>, are detailed in the sections that follow.</p>
<p><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong>EDUCATION</strong></span></p>
<p>The McCleary Supreme Court case’s school funding mandate has been the most prominent issue in the legislative session so far – and for good reason. Excellent schools are one of the foundations of a thriving economy, and the legislature is facing a deadline for fully funding those schools. <strong>While the Senate’s proposed budget increases K-12 education funding by $1.8 billion, or by 7 percent, it makes huge cuts to early learning </strong>– slashing $36 million from child care programs. This is because the Senate doesn’t actually raise the necessary new revenue to fund K-12 education, despite the speaking points that make it sound otherwise. The proposals include:</p>
<ul><li><strong>Undermining the foundations for high-quality early learning, especially for low-income children and families. </strong>The Senate plan would limit access to Washington’s Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program – our state’s preschool program that serves families living in poverty – by eliminating 3 year olds from the program and not adding any new slots over the next two years despite 23,000 unserved eligible children in the state. It also guts Early Achievers, our state’s key resource for early learning professionals to access coaching and tools to provide high-quality early care.</li><li><strong>Repealing voter-approved education initiatives.</strong> The budget would repeal initiatives 1351 and 732, measures passed by Washington voters to reduce class sizes and fund teacher cost-of-living raises. Refusing to implement voter-approved teacher cost-of-living raises is out of step with the goal of fully funding K-12 education. </li><li><strong>Overhauling the current school funding formula </strong>to change the way state disburses money to schools throughout the state. Even though the plan would require sizeable and commendable new investments in K-12 schools, the Senate has proposed to pay for its plan with a levy swap proposal that would actually <a class="external-link" href="senate-republicans2019-levy-swap-proposal-doesn2019t-do-enough-for-washington2019s-kids"><em>reduce</em> property tax resources</a> for schools compared to the current system. </li><li><strong>Prioritizing STEM and medical education over the needs of struggling working families.</strong> The Senate’s budget provides some increases in the higher education budget. But these investments would come at the expense of the lowest-income working families: $47 million is ransacked from WorkFirst – Washington’s job training and assistance program for families with young children who are trying to get back on their feet – to pay for them. Lawmakers should not be pitting working the needs of families against those of people seeking higher education opportunities.</li></ul>
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<strong><span class="Apple-style-span">ECONOMIC SECURITY</span></strong>
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<p>A community with a thriving economy fosters great jobs and supports working families, ensures stable and healthy housing for everyone, and provides economic opportunity for Washingtonians to meet their basic needs. The Senate Republicans’ proposal eviscerates the parts of our budget that make these values a reality for residents, particularly targeting those programs that relieve hardship among the lowest-income working people. <strong>This budget would cut funding for economic security by $132 million, a staggering 13 percent decrease</strong> <strong>from the amount necessary to maintain current services.</strong> Proposed changes include:</p>
<ul><li><strong>Cutting assistance for people with disabilities at risk of homelessness.</strong> This proposal would do away with the Housing and Essential Needs program that provides housing-related assistance to people unable to work because of disabilities. It replaces it with a new program that would only be available to people with dependent children, essentially eliminating services for seniors and single adults and all but guaranteeing an increase in homelessness. It also cuts another crucial program for people with disabilities – the Aged, Blind, and Disabled program – by limiting the time people can be on it to 36 months.</li><li><strong>Ransacking resources from job training programs </strong>to plug holes in other parts of the budget. The proposal moves $63 million out of the WorkFirst program and uses the money for other unrelated purposes, such as replacing funding cuts to colleges and universities.</li><li><strong>Pushing people off basic assistance and making it harder for new people to get on.</strong> TANF provides basic supports to families with children who are financially struggling. The Senate Republican budget would cut people off the program who have a disability, or people who are needed at home to care for a family member with a disability. It would also require new applicants to prove that they have been unable to find a job before applying for benefits, but it fails to provide necessary help to applicants in their efforts, such as providing for child care while parents are job-hunting. When other states have implemented similar procedural hurdles for families, they saw increases in hardship and spikes in homelessness.<br /><strong></strong></li><li><strong>Limiting options for working families to access child care so parents can go to work.</strong> The plan makes Working Connections Child Care, Washington’s largest child care subsidy program for families with low incomes, more difficult to access by changing eligibility requirements, capping enrollment, and creating more red tape for participants.</li></ul>
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HEALTHY PEOPLE &amp; ENVIRONMENT</strong></span></div>
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</strong>
<p>Washingtonians enjoy clean air and water and an excellent health care system that supports the wellbeing of a vast majority of Washington’s residents. The state budget provides for those benefits by investing in public health clinics, climate protection measures, and mental health services.&nbsp;<span class="Apple-style-span"><strong>The proposal would increase funding in this area by only $75 million, a less-than-1-percent boost.</strong> The proposals include:</span></p>
<ul><li><strong>Failing to provide adequate investments in mental health services.</strong> Compared to the <a class="external-link" href="a-look-at-how-the-governor2019s-budget-invests-in-progress">budget proposed by Governor Inslee</a>, this budget falls short on the immediate investments to address safety and staffing issues at Western State Hospital – in fact, this proposal would close down two entire wards – and fails to make the investments needed to build a strong community system into the future. <br /></li><li><strong>Missing opportunities to invest in public health, and to safeguard against proposed federal cuts.</strong> As the federal government considers cutting back federal support for health care, it is alarming to see leaders in our state Senate propose underinvestment in our public health system and health benefits for state workers. The budget also threatens the health insurance coverage for tens of thousands of home care workers who support our vulnerable seniors and people with disabilities.<br /></li><li><strong>Threatening health care innovation reforms </strong>that are part of the Washington State Medicaid Transformation Project. This initiative is designed to help Washingtonians achieve better health outcomes, to reward high-quality care, and to curb health care costs in the state Medicaid program. The Senate’s budget would create a roadblock to continuing this initiative and to receiving the $1.5 billion in federal funds it was slated to receive. <br /></li><li><strong>Reducing investments in programs that are protecting our state’s air and water. </strong>The proposal fails to provide resources to adequately sustain work to clean Puget Sound, a clean-up project that is also facing a federal funding threat from the Trump administration’s proposed budget. And no state funding is provided to implement the Clean Air Rule, an effort by Inslee’s administration to reduce carbon pollution in our state. The proposal would also cut or fail to fund investments in restoring salmon and protecting habitat.</li></ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span">COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT &amp; TRUST</span></strong></div>
<div><strong><br />
</strong>
<p>Good quality of life for Washingtonians includes safe communities to live in, access to beautiful parks and historical spaces, an open government that runs smoothly and efficiently, and the assurance of transparent and fair elections. <strong>This budget would undermine community development and trust by cutting current programs by $107 million, a 1.8 percent decrease from maintenance levels.</strong> The major changes include:</p>
<ul><li><strong>Failing to invest in tens of thousands of front-line workers, </strong>like nurses, home care workers, child care workers, highway maintenance workers, and other public employees by rejecting collective bargaining agreements already negotiated (with the exception of corrections workers and Washington State Patrol troopers and lieutenants). It also exacerbates ongoing issues with recruitment and retention throughout state government by mandating indiscriminate layoffs at state agencies. This would make it nearly impossible for our state agencies to deliver high-quality, timely services to the public. <br /></li><li><strong>Reducing resources for those who serve to uphold the law for all Washingtonians. </strong>Under this budget, state agencies that work to protect the legal rights of everyday citizens would see huge cuts. The Office of Civil Legal Aid would be cut by $10 million (36 percent) and the Office of the Attorney General, which represents our state in legal matters that benefit us all, such as lawsuits against the federal government, would be cut by $20 million (78 percent). The cuts to the Office of the Attorney General in ongoing funding would be temporarily replaced by shifting one-time resources from a lawsuit.<br /></li><li><strong>Reducing state contributions to retirement systems for first responders.</strong> Contributions to retirement systems are reduced by $159 million (a 74 percent reduction from maintenance levels), largely because of a $109 million cut to retirement contributions for police and firefighters.</li></ul>
<p>The state Senate Republican leaders take a page out of the book of Republicans in the <a class="external-link" href="five-ways-trumps-budget-proposal-would-hurt-washington">other Washington</a> – making deep cuts to the very investments that people throughout our state rely on, and across every area that we use to measure progress. It would be particularly stark for the people who are struggling to make ends meet. And it also includes a host of irresponsible and unsustainable financial stunts that add up to a budget that would collapse under its own weight.</p>
<p>A solid budget framework is the foundation for a strong economic future for Washington and its people. The Senate Republicans should rework their budget with an eye toward strengthening our state’s communities and the foundations that support them.</p>
</div>
No publisherKelli SmithTax BreakState RevenueProgress IndexPovertyEconomic SecurityState BudgetCapital Gains2017-03-30T13:50:15ZBlog EntryFive Ways Trump’s Budget Proposal Would Harm Washington Statehttp://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/five-ways-trumps-budget-proposal-would-hurt-washington
<div>By Julie Watts, deputy director</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>The Trump administration’s federal budget proposal hurts the very people the administration purported to help and leaves our states on the hook to make up the difference. The budget calls for big increases in military spending and pays for it through deep cuts to programs that help strengthen the economic security of everyday Americans. These cuts are on top of those already being proposed to health care through the repeal of the Affordable Care Act.</div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>President Trump has promised to be a champion of people left behind by the economy. However, his budget takes aim at the very programs that serve them. In fact, all of the cuts come from the Non-Defense Discretionary spending area of the federal budget. This part of the budget funds key priorities like job training, education, affordable housing, and basic supports for children, families, and the aging. It also includes funding for border security, veterans' benefits, and the FBI, but since Congress is unlikely to cut these areas, programs that help workers and families would be particularly hard hit.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Trump’s budget proposal, entitled “America First: A Budget Blueprint for Making America Great Again,” would not, in fact, help the communities in our nation and in our state thrive. Here are five ways Trump’s budget proposals would hurt Washington state and its residents:</p>
<p><strong>1.<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>Shifting costs to our state government and making it harder to balance the state budget</strong>: Federal grants make up almost one third of the Washington state budget. (See chart below.) They pay for things like education, human services, the environment, and statewide emergency response. The budget proposal would cut federal grants to states, which would leave our state on the hook for $458.6 million per biennium to maintain these services. (That is not even taking into consideration the $2.5 billion our state would have to cover if the proposed repeal of the Affordable Care Act and cuts to Medicaid go through).&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="image-inline image-inline" src="/images/copy6_of_copy5_of_copy4_of_copy3_of_copy2_of_copy_of_2017_03_20_Federal_Grants_Pie_Chart.jpg/image_preview" alt="Federal grants to WA pie chart_2017" /></p>
<p><strong>2.<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>Making it harder for people to make ends meet:</strong> President Trump’s proposed budget would eliminate the Low Income Energy Assistance Program, which helps people who don’t have enough money to pay their light and energy bills to keep the lights and heat/cooling on. This program – which largely serves people with low incomes and the elderly – would provide $113 million to the state in the 2017-2019 biennium. Trump’s budget would also eliminate the Weatherization Assistance Program, which provides roughly $8.6 million per biennium to the state to help people with lower incomes weatherize their homes to save on energy bills.</p>
<p><strong>3.<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>Making it harder for parents to care for their kids: </strong>Many working families rely on before- and after-school programs to not only provide educational and enrichment opportunities for their kids, but also to ensure that kids are well-cared for while they work. Trump’s budget proposal would eliminate the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program. This program would provide $36.1 million for before- and after-school programs in Washington state in the next biennium. Eliminating the program could mean nearly 18,000 state children would lose educational, recreational, and enrichment programs outside school hours.</p>
<p><strong>4.<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>Making it harder to get a living-wage job: </strong>Whether you are a young person just starting out or you’ve been laid off and are back in the market, job-seeking is a daunting task. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) provides support to help eligible job seekers get education, training, and support services to succeed in the job market. WIOA grants to Washington totaled $137.5 million between 2015 and 2016. The Trump budget proposes cutting WIOA grants to states by 35 percent, which would mean the state would either need to come up with an additional $48.1 million in funds to cover the federal losses or serve 59,000 fewer people with job search and training support in the next biennium.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>5.<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>Making it harder to get affordable housing: </strong>Washington state is in the midst of a homelessness crisis. Homelessness increased 15 percent in 2015 and again by 7 percent in 2016. The Trump budget slates the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, &nbsp;a federal grant program to states to build affordable housing, for elimination. This program provides Washington state with about $38.1 million per biennium to issue to developers to build affordable housing units. Washington also stands to lose funding for Housing Choice Vouchers. These vouchers are an important tool in combating homelessness and providing people with low incomes with assistance to get housing in the rental market. In 2015, more than 50,000 Washington families had a roof over their heads thanks to this important program. Trump proposes to fund the vouchers at $1.7 billion below the amount necessary to maintain the current number of vouchers nationwide. That could mean big cuts to the number of households getting rental assistance in Washington.</p>
<p>And this is barely scratching the surface in terms of the cuts that the Trump budget is proposing.</p>
<p>President Trump’s budget proposal may have a difficult time clearing Congress. However, it represents a stark vision of what it would look like if Congress chooses to pursue a budget along similar lines: dramatic increases in military spending paid for with deep cuts to services and programs that help states support families, individuals, and workers. And again, this whole budget proposal is in addition to the dramatic cuts Washington state could be facing with the potential loss of ACA and Medicaid.&nbsp;</p>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
No publisherMelinda Young-FlynnFederal IssuesCommunityHealth CarePovertyEconomic Security2017-03-20T22:49:42ZBlog EntryThe Future We Want: The Washington State Budget & Policy Center Announces Our 2017-2019 Legislative Agendahttp://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/the-future-we-want-the-washington-state-budget-policy-center-announces-our-2017-2019-legislative-agenda
<p>Great schools, strong communities, healthy families: these are the things Washingtonians care about. Everyone wants this to be a state where kids can meet their full potential, where everyone can breathe clean air and drink clean water, and where everyone can succeed.</p>
<p>In the face of big changes on the national landscape, now more than ever it is important that state policymakers work to ensure the future of Washington as a place where all people can lead safe, happy, and healthy lives. The decisions they make now will influence the well-being of people in Washington for years to come.</p>
<p>How do we create a better future for our state? The <strong><a class="external-link" href="../policy-areas/legislative-agenda-1">Washington State Budget &amp; Policy Center’s 2017-2019 Legislative Agenda</a></strong> offers a framework for how policymakers can ensure that every child, every family, every individual, and every community in our state can thrive.</p>
<p>Starting in January, state policymakers must take action to deliver <a class="external-link" href="../reports/a-parmount-duty-funding-education-for-mccleary-and-beyond/pdf_version">a world-class basic education</a> to every child. This will require cleaning up the tax code and <a class="external-link" href="funding-schools-for-washington2019s-kids-can2019t-be-done-through-property-tax-gimmicks">avoiding distractions</a> that take attention away from efforts to make sure every kid in Washington state has access to great schools. It is imperative that policymakers accomplish this task while also dedicating resources to priorities that make Washington a great place to live, from early learning to long-term care, from school breakfast for kids to night classes for their parents.</p>
<p>We know that basic education will dominate the conversation this legislative session. We also know that kids can’t succeed if their parents are struggling to meet their basic needs, if their neighborhoods aren’t safe, and if their communities aren’t healthy. That is why our Legislative Agenda is focused on building a better Washington through the six key areas laid out in our <em><a class="external-link" href="../policy-areas/progress-index">Progress Index</a>:</em> world-class education; economic security, healthy people and environment; community development and trust; good jobs; and revenue. The recommendations within our agenda also aim to promote policies that advance racial equity. The Budget &amp; Policy Center <a class="external-link" href="../policy-areas/legislative-agenda-1">Legislative Agenda</a> offers specific recommendations for how lawmakers can:</p>
<ul><li>Build <strong>economic security</strong> by addressing intergenerational poverty, strengthening support for families, and making sure everyone can afford a roof over their head and food on the table.</li><li>Create a world-class <strong>education</strong> system that provides kids with high-quality teachers, gives them a great start through early learning, and offers equitable access to higher education.</li><li>Ensure everyone has access to affordable <strong>health</strong> care, as well as mental health and public health services; make sure that everyone lives in an <strong>environment</strong> with clean air, water, and land.</li><li>Develop strong <strong>communities</strong> and racial equity while addressing barriers to re-entry and ensuring access to civil legal assistance; ensure that there’s greater transparency about our state’s tax breaks.</li><li>Promote <strong>great jobs </strong>that stimulate economic growth and development, and advance opportunities for all workers to have paid time off to be with their families.</li><li><strong>Clean up the state’s tax code</strong> so that our state has the resources it needs to support a high quality of life for everyone.</li></ul>
<p><span class="apple-style-span">Throughout the legislative
session, which begins January 9, and beyond, the Budget &amp; Policy Center
will work with partner organizations, community leaders, and grassroots
advocates to advance the priorities laid out in this agenda. Our research and analysis
will continue to show policymakers why it is critical to invest in the progress
of our state and its people – especially in the face of proposed federal
policies that threaten to move us backward rather than forward.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span class="apple-style-span"><br /></span></p>
No publisherJulie WattsEnvironmentHealth CarePovertyEconomic SecurityEquityState BudgetEducation2017-07-24T19:50:27ZBlog EntryCensus Data Highlights Disparities in Economic Well-Being for Children of Color http://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/census-data-highlights-disparities-in-economic-well-being-for-children-of-color
<div class="discreet">by David Hlebain, interim policy analyst</div>
<div class="discreet">&nbsp;</div>
<p>While 2016 <a class="external-link" href="Too%20Many%20Washingtonians%20Still%20Struggling%20to%20Make%20Ends%20Meet%20">U.S. Census data</a> shows an overall slight decline in Washington residents living below the poverty line, a closer look at the numbers demonstrates persistent economic challenges of households and families with low incomes. Kids, especially children of color, are most likely to grow up in households with low incomes.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Check out <a class="external-link" href="../economic-insecurity-census-fact-sheet-2016/pdf_version">our new infographic</a>, “A Look at the Economic Well-Being of Washingtonians with Low Incomes,” for additional Washington state data.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="discreet">Click here or on graphic to see to full PDF.</p>
<p><span class="Apple-style-span"><a class="external-link" href="../economic-insecurity-census-fact-sheet-2016/pdf_version"><img class="image-inline" src="/Poverty%20Factsheet%20graphic.jpg/image_preview" alt="Economic Insecurity Census Graphic 2016" /></a></span></p>
<p>A closer look at the data shows that in Washington state:</p>
<ul><li><strong>One in 17 residents (nearly 6 percent) live in deep poverty</strong>, defined as 50 percent of the federal poverty line (a $10,080 annual income for a family of three).</li><li><strong>Nearly two in five kids (more than 37 percent) live in households with low incomes</strong>, defined as 200 percent of the federal poverty line ($40,320 for a family of three).&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Economic disparities persist for kids of color. </strong>Sixty-six percent of Latino children, 57 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native children, and 57 percent of Black children live in households with low incomes.</li></ul>
<p>Poverty can impede kids’ success in school, their overall health, and the stability of their family. This data underscores the importance of investing in policies to ensure that all of Washington’s kids and families can thrive.&nbsp;</p>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
No publisherMelinda Young-FlynnPovertyEconomic SecurityEquity2017-07-24T19:46:33ZBlog EntryCensus Snapshot: Too Many Washingtonians Still Struggling to Make Ends Meet http://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/Too%20Many%20Washingtonians%20Still%20Struggling%20to%20Make%20Ends%20Meet%20
<div class="discreet">By David Hlebain, interim policy analyst</div>
<div class="discreet">&nbsp;</div>
<p>The new U.S. Census data shows that the number of Washington residents living below the poverty line declined 1 percent between 2014 and 2015. This welcome news is tempered by the fact that the data shows that hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians remain in poverty, with communities of color struggling the most. Given this, policymakers need to look beyond the immediate headlines touting our progress and make smart investments in creating a thriving economy that works for <em>all</em> of us.</p>
<p>The newly released Census data shows that in Washington state:</p>
<ul><li><strong>More than one in eight people (12 percent) live below the poverty line.&nbsp;</strong>This is down from 13 percent in 2014. For a family of three, the poverty line is defined as earning less than $20,160 per year.</li></ul>
<ul><li><strong>Nearly one in seven children (15 percent) live below the poverty line.&nbsp;</strong>This is a decline from 17.5 percent in 2014.&nbsp;</li></ul>
<ul><li><strong>Deep disparities by race and ethnicity persist.&nbsp;</strong>More than 24 percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives, 23 percent of Black people, and more than 20 percent of Latinos live below the poverty line.</li></ul>
<ul><li>Although median household income continued to increase, when adjusted for inflation,&nbsp;<strong>median household income remains at 2007 levels&nbsp;</strong>despite the rising costs of meeting basic needs.&nbsp;<strong>&nbsp;</strong></li></ul>
<p>This new data demonstrates how much more work there is to do to create a state economy with real pathways out of poverty and toward economic security. But&nbsp;it still doesn’t tell the whole story. Consider the fact that a single parent raising two kids in the state needs to make at least&nbsp;<strong><em>$59,000</em></strong>&nbsp;to cover the costs of meeting all basic needs, including housing, food, child care, and transportation. (1)&nbsp;<a name="_ednref1" href="../census-snapshot-too-many-washingtonians-still-struggling-to-make-ends-meet#_edn1"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"></span></span></a>That means, beyond what the Census data tells us, families making&nbsp;<em>three times </em>as much income as those living at the official federal poverty level are also struggling to making ends meet.</p>
<p>Legislators must remember this big picture reality when they consider the policies they will advance in the 2017 legislative session. They must work to not only alleviate and prevent poverty throughout our state, but also to ensure that all Washingtonians can get ahead.</p>
<p>Voters and policymakers have the opportunity to take steps in the November election and the 2017 legislative session to help families get on the road to economic stability. Increasing the statewide minimum wage, ensuring access to paid sick leave, restoring funding to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, and funding the Working Families Tax Rebate can all help provide greater economic security for Washington residents.</p>
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No publisherMelinda Young-FlynnPovertyEconomic Security2017-07-24T19:59:54ZBlog EntryAll Income Growth is Going to the Richest 1 Percent of Washingtonianshttp://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/all-income-growth-is-going-to-the-richest-1-percent-of-washingtonians
<p>It’s time for policymakers in Washington state to take steps to reverse decades of widening economic disparities that threaten broad prosperity, now that it has <a class="external-link" href="http://www.epi.org/publication/income-inequality-in-the-us/">again been shown</a> that all income growth since 2009 continues to flow to the wealthiest Washingtonians.</p>
<p>An <a class="external-link" href="http://www.epi.org/publication/income-inequality-in-the-us/">updated report from the Economic Policy Institute</a> (EPI) shows that the richest 1 percent of households – those making over $388,000 a year – captured <em>all</em> of the new income generated in Washington state between 2009 and 2013 (see graph). By contrast, and in a stark reversal from past decades, average incomes among the remaining 99 percent of Washingtonians <em>declined</em> during this period, causing far too many hardworking families to fall even further behind.</p>
<p align="center"><a title="2016-6_Top_1_Percent_Income_GrowthEPI" class="internal-link" href="/images/2016623_EPI_Top_1_Percent_Income_Growth.jpg"><img class="image-inline image-inline" src="/images/2016623_EPI_Top_1_Percent_Income_Growth.jpg/image_preview" alt="2016-6_Top_1_Percent_Income_GrowthEPI" /></a></p>
<p>The richest 1 percent of Washingtonians didn’t always reap such an outsized share of income gains during periods of economic growth. Prior to 1980, the 99 percent typically captured at least 80 percent of all income gains during economic expansions.</p>
<p>Further, as the EPI report points out, it used to be considered outrageous for executives to receive multimillion dollar salaries and outsized bonuses while laying off workers. Today, as the vast majority of working people and families in Washington state continue to struggle, super-rich CEOs living here are doing better than ever. In fact, in 2015, the CEO of Washington state-based Expedia <a class="external-link" href="http://www.seattletimes.com/business/expedia-ceo-must-earn-his-huge-pay-package-over-time/">received the highest pay ($94.6 million)</a> of any corporate chief executive in the county.</p>
<p>It has become abundantly clear in recent years that everyday Americans and Washingtonians are tired of the economic inequality that has become the norm. In our state, we need policies that help all communities thrive by strengthening employment and creating more living-wage jobs. We need to make sure our tax code doesn’t favor the wealthy and the politically connected over the common good.</p>
<p>In fact, our upside-down tax system – where Washingtonians with the lowest incomes pay seven times as much in state and local taxes as a share of their income than the richest 1 percent – makes it even harder for the 99 percent to get ahead.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Building a stronger Washington economy requires greater economic equality and overall equity. Lawmakers must undo the systemic inequities that have created gaps in opportunity for many people of color to receive good jobs and living-wage salaries.</p>
<p>In Washington state:</p>
<ul><li><strong>Voters can help advance economic equality and close the opportunity gap if Initiative 1433, now gathering signatures, makes it on the November ballot and passes</strong>. It would incrementally raise the minimum wage to $13.50 over four years, increasing the take-home pay for 730,000 people working across a range of sectors. It would also provide paid sick leave, so parents don’t lose wages when they need to take care of themselves or their children when they’re sick.</li><li><strong>Lawmakers during the 2017 legislative session must pass <a class="external-link" href="../policy-areas/state-revenue/capital-gains">the capital gains tax</a> </strong>recently proposed by Governor Inslee and leaders in the State House, which has been endorsed by major papers and many community groups throughout our state. And they should use the revenue from capital gains to invest in education, health care, and other services that expand economic opportunities for everyone. </li></ul>
<p>And as lawmakers work to craft policies that seek to provide economic opportunity to Washingtonians, they must be especially mindful that those policies empower those who have been most harmed by racism and other structural inequalities that fuel the rise in economic inequality. <br /><br /></p>
No publisherAndy NicholasIncome InequalityMinimum WageEconomic SecurityEquityBallot MeasuresCapital Gains2016-06-23T21:47:03ZBlog EntryReport: Changes Needed So Washington's Kids Have Chance for Bright Futurehttp://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/new-report-changes-needed-so-washington2019s-kids-have-chance-for-bright-future
<p>All of Washington's children could have the opportunity to thrive in school and life if policymakers took key steps to improve economic security and remove barriers to success, our new report finds.&nbsp;</p>
<p><em><a class="external-link" href="../SWC%202016%20annual%20report%20Final.pdf"><img class="image-left" src="/SWC%202016%20annual%20report%20Final_Page_01.jpg/image_mini" alt="State of WA Kids 2016 Cover Page" />State of Washington’s Kids 2016</a></em>, co-published with the <a class="external-link" href="http://www.childrensalliance.org/">Children’s Alliance</a> through our Washington KIDS COUNT partnership, shows that children are better able to prosper when such basic needs are met as a secure place to sleep at night and food on the table. Yet four out of 10 kids in Washington state live in families that struggle to meet these basic needs, according to the report. This economic insecurity puts kids at greater risk of falling behind throughout their life – in school, jobs, personal health, and civic engagement. What's more, structural racism – which exists because of a historical legacy of discriminatory practices in housing, finance, and education – means that kids of color find themselves on increasingly unequal and unstable footing.&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>State of Washington’s Kids </em>shows that:</p>
<ul><li><strong>The number of homeless children is up by nearly 15,000 since 2008, and is particularly high among students of color.</strong></li><li><strong>Just four in 10 children entering kindergarten are prepared in all six areas of readiness: social, emotional, physical, cognitive, literacy, and math. </strong>Only one in three American Indian/Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander students are prepared in all six areas of readiness.</li><li>In all but two Washington counties, <strong>the number of child care slots available for hardworking parents is less than the number of children in need of such care.&nbsp;</strong></li></ul>
<p>There is plenty of reason for hope. The rate of low birthweight babies in our state has remained quite low – below 6.4 percent – since 2005. The number of children with health insurance increased to 96 percent in 2014. And on-time high school graduation rates in Washington have held steady, above 75 percent since 2010.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, much work remains to be done. We cannot achieve our promise of a brighter future for all children when so many kids of color are being left behind. Our report offers two multi-faceted solutions to provide all of Washington’s children with the opportunity to get ahead:&nbsp;</p>
<ul><li><strong>Take meaningful steps to undo structural racism and the system of exclusionary practices and policies that breed inequities for kids of color.</strong> Replace them with solutions that enable kids from all backgrounds to succeed. One way policymakers can advance inclusivity is to use racial equity measurement tools to review the impact of proposed legislation that seeks to close the opportunity gap. [See our <a class="external-link" href="http://kidscountwa.org/racial-equity-tool/">racial equity toolkit</a>&nbsp;for one resource to accomplish this.] Another essential step is to work directly with leaders in communities of color to learn from them about recommended strategies to redress inequities.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Invest in the success of whole families by recognizing that the well-being of children is inextricably tied to the well-being of their parents. </strong>Kids do better when their parents do better. That’s why two-generation approaches to poverty prevention in particular offer a good model. <a class="external-link" href="proposed-two-generation-legislation-is-important-step-in-improving-family-economic-security">Proposed legislation focusing on intergenerational poverty</a>&nbsp;that was introduced in the 2016 legislative session was a good start. Further, <a class="external-link" href="http://www.raiseupwa.com/">Initiative 1433</a>, now gathering signatures for the November ballot, would smartly raise the take-home pay for the working parents of thousands of Washington children. And by providing paid sick and safe leave, it would also help Washington families by ensuring that workers don’t lose wages when they need to take care of themselves or their children when they’re sick.</li></ul>
<p>Taking steps to implement these common-sense solutions would set Washington’s children up to have a healthy start in life, have their basic needs met, and succeed in school and life. We'll build a better future for all of us if we take the right steps for our children now.&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>Read the full </em><a title="State of WA Kids 2016" class="internal-link" href="/SWC%202016%20annual%20report%20Final.pdf">State of Washington's Kids 2016</a> <em>report or visit the Annie E. Casey Foundation's </em><a class="external-link" href="http://datacenter.kidscount.org/"><em>KIDS COUNT Data Center</em></a><em>.</em></p>
No publisherMelinda Young-FlynnKids CountPovertyEconomic SecurityCommunity2016-06-29T23:46:47ZBlog Entry